bourdon
/buʁ.dɔ̃/masculine
The English word 'bumblebee' is translated into French as bourdon.
bourdon is a masculine noun used to refer to the genus of bee known as the bumblebee.
Meaning: genus of bee (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
bourdon is the term commonly used throughout France.
How do you pronounce it?
/buʁ.dɔ̃/
Did you know?
- A bourdon can refer to a large, heavy bell, such as the great bell in a cathedral.
- The word bourdon can also refer to a staff or a heavy walking stick used by pilgrims in historical contexts.
- While bourdon is the standard term, French speakers often use the phrase bourdonner to mean both the sound a bee makes and the act of talking aimlessly.
Examples in context
- Le bourdon vole près de la fleur.The bumblebee is flying near the flower.
- J'ai vu un gros bourdon dans le jardin.I saw a big bumblebee in the garden.
- Un bourdon est sur la table.A bumblebee is on the table.
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are walking in a garden.
- ManonOh, regarde Lucas ! Il y a un bourdon.Oh, look Lucas! There is a bumblebee.
- LucasIl est vraiment mignon et poilu.It is really cute and furry.
- ManonJe ne veux pas qu'il me pique.I don't want it to sting me.
- LucasNe t'inquiète pas, le bourdon est calme.Don't worry, the bumblebee is calm.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bumblebee” translations and entries bourdon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
